Reviews

The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

huttonivich's review against another edition

challenging funny slow-paced

4.25

stellamcvey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The middle of this book was one of the most affecting things I've ever read but the way it wrapped up confused me. Maybe I'm in a bad mood but surely if there's a mood to be reading Dostoevesky in it is one that is unsettled and causes you to ruminate uneasily about the past so I'm not sure I can blame that. Still a solid read. 

izzyfrizzybizzy's review against another edition

4.5

Actually comprehended the plot and characters this time. Not sure what the themes were though, still not smart enough for that.
Very delightful monologues and conversations, cool setting, tragic story for all the main characters.
Levedev was on that grindset, he was hustling, and yknow game respects game. Vera is sweet. Who’s this Evgeny guy? I’d like to spend a Summer in a dacha. Aglaya I get you girl. For all the fuss around Nastasya she’s barely in the book…. Maybe that’s the point? Price Myshkin is a sweetie pie too, if a little idiotic, but not a full idiot.

aestheticanna's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

donnawr1's review against another edition

4.0

Not the kind of Idiot that one might expect to find. Dostoyevsky uses the main character, an innocent and guileless epileptic as a means to comment on the social structure of his time. An entertaining book written by a master.

saphaven's review against another edition

5.0

life changing. Doestoevsky's writing is like nothing I've seen before and I am in awe of the density yet quality of the text. my god.

zubatus's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mete's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

cookie_cat's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Though I prefer when Dostoevsky writes about the darker corners of the soul, I still found this book an inspiring piece, inviting to contemplate the good, the bad, the mad and the faulty aspects of the society.

seamus_hawks's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75